Lesson Plans
Art to Dye For
Textile Lesson
By: Megan Daniel
Students will learn about the history of where dyes came from and how they were used all over the world. They will spend some time with color, mixing their own dyes, learning about fiber reactive dye and experimenting with folds and feelings…..creating one of a kind creations!
Process
-Talk about color. Spend time playing around with mixology. Also bringing awareness to the art room about colors and our emotions/feelings.
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-Bring natural fibers to the class room. Talk about how and where they originated from. Look at historic methods and contemporary artists.
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- Tie dye throughout the ages, and now bringing it into the classroom to what is current and relevant in today’s art world (from ancient Africa-Asia-Europe-US)
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-Steps on how to prepare the natural fibers
-Soak clean fibers in soda ash and water.
-Spin out fabric, work damp.
-Depending on the age group I will teach different folds.
-spiral, crunch, accordion, V-shape, diagonal, and multiple folds and beyond!
-Tie up with kite string
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-Mixology 101
-Color preparation: Urea, salt, water, and algae thickener
- Primary, secondary color mixing
-Color saturation, and application
-Reactive dye experimentation time!!
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-Let fibers sit overnight on cardboard and newspaper
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-Cut open, wash out in sink.
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-Wash with cold water.
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-Wash with hot water and synthrapol.
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-Wash with cold water and detergent.
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-Now time see those one of a kind, beautiful, vibrant textiles!
The tie dye process does take some time and planning and can be a mess, but when it is done correctly it will be a process your students will never forget! They will be proud of their success. With unlimited ideas and approaches to create!!
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